Manually operated storage devices



y 3, 1955 H. INGOLD 2,707,442

MANUALLY OPERATED STORAGE DEVICES Filed Jan. 24, 1952 g I J/ INVENTOR. HAM! m saza United States Patent @fifice 2,707,442 Patented May 3, 1955 MANUALLY OPERATED STORAGE DEVICES Hans Ingold, Luce-me, Switzerland Application January 24, 1952, Serial No. 268,015 Claims priority, application Switzerland May 2, 1951 8 Claims. (Cl. 105-31) The present invention relates to manually operated storage devices and more particularly to separable, railsupported container units for receiving and storing documents and various other objects and articles.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means facilitating the displacement of a rollable container unit with a minimum of power and in a very simple and effective manner in one direction of movement and/or in a direction opposite thereto.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means affording the movement of one or more container units relative to other container units for selectively bringing about juxtaposition of all of said units for closing and locking the same against each other or for spacing predetermined container units to permit access thereto.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means simple in construction, easy in operation, composed of a minimum of mechanical parts, to be manipulated by hand or foot, and very etficient in attaining relative displacement of the respective container units with respect to each other.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means conducive to an aesthetic and attractive outer appearance of the container units of which only a few operating parts are exposed to view and to be actuated by the operator with a minimum effort and power to bring about desired movements of one or more container units along a predetermined path.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means rendering possible the displacement of one or more container units relative to other container units by the application'of a thrust or impact to said one or more units of a value sufiicient to overcome at least the inertia of the respective units.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means permitting the securement of one or more movable container units in predetermined positions in the course of the respective movements.

The above and other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description, ref erence being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical, elevational view of a plurality of movable, separable container units forming a storage device constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view with parts of a container unit broken away, showing a motion translating mechanism for effecting movement of the respective container units;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a stop element used in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, elevational view of a modified form of a motion translating mechanism for effecting movement of a container unit;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, elevational view of another modified form of a motion translating mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a storage device constructed according to the present invention which includes a plurality of movably disposed, separable container units 10a, 10b, 100, each unit being mounted by means of rollers 11 on spaced apart tracks or rails 12. Any suitable roller or ball bearings may be provided for the respective rollers 11 to decrease their frictional resistance to rotation, thereby facilitating their movement along the rails 12. One or more of the container units 10a, 10b, 10c are movable relative to each other for selectively bringing about juxtaposition of all the units adjacent the support or wall 14 or for spacing a predetermined container unit, such as 10a, from the remaining units ltlb, 106 to form an aisle 13 therebetween and permit access to the container units adjacent the aisle 13.

Suitable motion translating means, such as embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6, are carried by each of the units 10a, 10b, for effecting relative movement of the respective container units. The various motion translating means, subsequently to be described, are each actuated by an operating element 15 which is mounted on the outer or front face of the respective container unit for swinging or pivotal movement about the axis or pivot 16 between the spaced stops 1'7, 18. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the respective container units are movable away from the wall 14 in response to counterclockwise pivotal movement of the operating element 15 from the position within the stop 18 to the position within the stop 17. Conversely, clockwise pivotal movement of the operating element 15 returns the respective container units into juxtaposition with respect to each other.

In Fig. 3 there is shown in detail the structure of stop 18 which is the same as stop 17. Stop 18 is in the form of a U-shaped body including spaced legs 19, 19a interconnected by a bight 20. One of the legs, namely 19, is longer than the other and carries a lock 21 which may receive a key adapted to actuate a threaded spindle carrying a bolt (not shown) for locking purposes which is moved along the spindle to a position in which it impedes the withdrawal of the operating element or lever 15 from the U-shaped stop body 18.

The legs 19a opposite the locks 21 of the stops 17, 18 are fixed to the respective container units by any suitable means and, upon actuation of the lock .21, the operating element 15 can be secured in either limit of its pivotal movement.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 2, there is illustrated one form of the motion translating means which is operable in response to pivotal movement of the operating element 15 from the limiting position in engagement with stop 18 to the limiting position in engagement with stop 17 to move the respective container unit 10a, 10b, 10c away from the wall 14. Each of the motion translating means is arranged within the respective container unit, preferably on the rear face of the wall thereof carrying element 15 and pivot 16 so that only these latter parts of the translating mechanism are exposed to view.

This mechanism includes a small sprocket wheel 22 fixed to the axis 16, and a large sprocket wheel 24 fixed to the axis or pivot 25, the sprocket wheels 22, 24 being interconnected to a sprocket chain 23. Abutting against the sprocket wheel 24 is a bearing element 26 which is mounted for extensible and retractible movements with respect to the sprocket wheel 2 The bearing element is provided with spaced, longitudinally extending slots 28, 29, slot 28 receiving the axis 25 and slot 29 receiving the lock screw 27 for securing the bearing element 26 in any predetermined position of the extensible and retractible movements. Bearing element 26 includes a depending shoe 30 a which is adapted to bear against an abutment, such as ra l 12 9 an addit na rai 3. a a e betwee e P r of rails 12. The shoe 3% may be provided with any suitable friction lining 33 which enhances the gripping qualities of the curved bearing surface of the shoe 3 which swings through a predetermined are 34 upon rotation of the sprocket wheel 24 in the direction of arrow Q. For example, the lining 3?; may be fabricated of rubber or a plastic composition. Accordingly, when the shoe 30 is swung in the direction of the arrow ,Q and through the are 34, the bearing surface 32 engages the surface rail 31 and imparts a thrust to the respective container unit. By varying the engagement of the bearing element 26 with the rail 31, a sufficient thrust can be imparted to the container unit to overcome its inertia and to effect the desired movement of the container unit in predetermined direction R.

It is to be noted that the axis in of wheel 22 lies in a vertical plane in which the axis or pivot 25 of bearing 26 is disposed whereby aXes 16 and 25 are arranged Zone directly below the other.

In actual operation, the degree of engagement of the bearing element 26 with the rail 31 is adjusted by means of the lock screw 27 which can be loosened to permit the movement of the shoe 3G with respect to the sprocket Wheel 24, and thereafter tightened to fix the shoe 30 in adjusted position. Upon grasping the operating element .15 and pivoting the same toward the stop 17, as indicated by the arrow .P of Fig. 2, sprocket wheel 24 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and swings the shoe 30 through a predetermined arc to impart the necessary thrust to the container unit to move the same in another direction.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a modified form of the motion translating means in which the shoe 30 is replaced by a gear segment 30'a having one or more gear teeth 35, and the rail 31 is replaced by a rack 31a having teeth 36. The gear teeth 35 mesh with the rack teeth 36 during a predetermined are of the swinging movement of the bearing'element 26 to impart the desired thrust to the respective container units 10a, lilb, 10c. Positive engagement of the rack 31a and the gear segment 39a assures a positive drive without the possibility of slippage. It is clear that only a single gear tooth 35 is necessary to achieve the drive upon rotation of the element 26.

in Figs; 5 and 6 there is illustrated a further modified form of the motion translating means in which the shoe 30 is replaced by a bearing wheel 3% which is rotatably journalied on the axle 37 carried by the lower end of element 26. The rotatable bearing wheel. 3% is provided with a friction rim or tire 33b, bearing wheel 30!) being held in a fixed position on its axle 37 by means of locking screw 38 which isthreadediy supported on the element ZG and is engageable in a recess provided in the face of the wheel 30b.

When employing any one of the motion translating means, it may be advisable to increase the gripping qualities of the 'rail 31 by providing the latter with a frictional lining fabricated of a suitable and durable material.

in view' of the translation between the movements of the hand lever 15 and of the arm 26, the container unit may be moved with a predetermined velocity since no considerable power or effort is required to bring about such movement of the container unit from its position of rest. The thrust or impact imparted to the container unit maybe only of relatively short duration since said unit moves along a track or without considerable friction. Instead of a handle bar or lever 15 a foot actuated mechanism of like construction may be employed.

' It can thus be seen that there has been provided in accordance with this invention a storage device comprising a'plurality of movably disposed, separable container units normally disposed in juxtaposition with each other and movably relative to each other, motion translating means carr' d by each of said units and manually operable for ill effecting relative movement of the separable container units, said motion translating means including abutment means adjacent said units, and bearing means mounted on the respective units for swinging movement and engaging said abutment means during a predetermined arc of said swinging movement to impart at least sufiicient thrust to said respective units to overcome the inertia of the respective units for effecting their movement. 7

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and herein described, it will be understood that the same is capable of modifications without departure from the general scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination, with a plurality of movably disposed, separable container units normally arranged in juxtaposition with each other and displaceable relative to each other, of motion translating means carried by each or" said units and manually operable for eifecting relative movement of the separable container units, said motion translating means including abutment means adjacent said units, bearing means mounted on the respective units for swinging movement and engaging said abutment means during a predetermined arc of said swinging movement to impart at least sufiicient thrust to said respective units to overcome the inertia of the respective units for effecting their movement, and adjustment means on each unit and mounting said bearing means for adjustment with respect to said abutment means, whereby the engagement of said bearing means with said abutment means may be regulated to vary said thrust.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said bearing means includes a wheel, and said abutment means includes a rail engageable by said wheel.

3. A storage device for documents, goods, and like articles, comprising rail means, at least one container unit, means mounting said container unit on said rail means for movement therealong, abutment means adjacent said container unit, and rotatable movement translating means carried by said container unit and adjustable relative to said abutment means for effecting movement of said unit, said movement translating means including a bearing element mounted for swinging movement and engageable with said abutment means during a predetermined arc of said swinging movement to im part an impact to said container unit of a value at least sufticient to overcome the inertia of the latter and to effect movement of said container unit.

4. A storage device for documents, goods, and like 7 articles, comprising at least one container unit, abutment means adjacent said container unit, and rotatable movement translating means carried by said container unit and engageable with said abutment means for effecting movement of said unit, said movement translating means including a bearing element mounted for adjustment and for swinging movement relative to said abutment means during a predetermined arc of said swinging movement to impart an impact to said container unit with a value at least sufiicient to overcome the inertia of the latter and to etfect movement of said container unit.

5. in combination, a storage unit, and drive means for imparting movement to said storage unit, said drive means including operable means arranged on said storage unit for swinging movement about an axis, bearing means operatively connected to said operable means and oscillatable about an axis lying in the same plane as the axis of said operable means and therebelow, and abutment means engageable with said bearing means during oscillating movement of the latter.

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said hearing means is arranged for adjustment relative to its axis and to said abutment means, said bearing means including friction means for contact with said 2,?07',442 5 6 abutment means upon manipulation of said operable References Cited in the file of this patent means- UNITED STATES PATENTS 7. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said b 122,814 Collins Jan. 16, 1872 caring means terminates in an arcuate end foi engage- 450 532 Runser Apr 14 1891 ment with said abutment means during oscillatory movc- 5 760640 M iIIIIII: 1904 ment of said bearing means past said abutment means. 1,450:735 Sheal APL 1923 8. The combination according to claim 5, including stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said FOREIGN PATENTS operable means. 245,048 Germany Apr. 8, 1911 

